Automatic machine for washing containers



Dec. 2, 1947. F. J. cozzoLl AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAINERS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 194:5

ATTORNEY De@ Z 1947- F. J. cozzoLl 2,431,988

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAlNERS Filed Feb. 12, 1945 4SheeS-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1947. Ricci-Z611 2,431,988

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAINERS INVENTOR IKM/#W ATTORNEY Dec.2, 1947. A F. J. cozzoLl 2,431,988

AUTOMAIIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTA1NES l Filed Feb.l 12,'1943 4sheets-sheet 4 /gl "El mvENToR 7MM4/- ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1947UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR WASHING CONTAINERSFrank J. Cozzoli, Plainfield, N. J.

Application February 12, 1943, Serial No. 475,625

8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in the method and means ofsterilizing tubular containers and more particularly to improvements ina washing machine capable of cleansing a variety of sizes and shapes ofcontainers successively or simultaneously without danger of fracture andwithout undue loss or waste of the cleansing fluids during the washingprocess.

The present invention is an improvement on, and a continuation in partof, my prior application Serial No. 410,727, noW Patent #2,379,789,`dated July 3, 1945, and has for a primary aim to render available amachine organization capable of automatically feeding, sterilizing, anddischarging delicate tubular containers such as, but not limited to,glass ampule and suture tubes, in an efllcient manner.

Another aim of the invention is to improve and render available a sturdyyet iiexible washing machine structure whose cleansing capacity in tubesper minute may be increased or decreased to suit a users requirements, amachine that is thorough in its operation and economical to operate, amachine that, by making a few simple adjustments, may be adapted toreceive and cleanse various sizes and shapes of glasscontainers,-simultaneously, if the needs require, and a machineembodying a control means adapted for either continuous or cyclicoperation.

A further aim of the invention is to eliminate the heretofore customaryoperation of hand feeding and the dangers incident thereto, such asglass splintering, and to further improve the character of the cleansingmechanisms and operations to the end that one is assured that tubes tobe sterilized are not only untouched by human hands during thesterilization process but are also free of small splinters of glass orother foreign particles that might otherwise be contained or producedtherein during the initial stages of manufacture.

The invention further undertakes to render the operation of cleaningmore thorough than is possible by prior methods by subjecting each tubeor container to a succession of different cleans- 'ing operations eachof which may be followed by a liquid expelling and drying operation thatremoves all traces of the cleansing fluid used during the previous stageand thereby to condition the tubes to receive the same or a differentcleansing iiuid during a neXt following stage.

Still another objective of this invention is to conserve the cleansingiiuid or fiuids used during the washing operations. This objective isattained first by providing a plurality of separate systems arranged todeliver independently of one another a selected cleaning fluid at acontrollable rate at a given station to the interior of a tube onlywhile the tube is at that station. During the transit of the tubes fromstation to station, the supply of cleaning fluid is closed oliautomatically. In cooperation with this method of supplying cleaningfluid intermittently, the fluid previously supplied to a given tube isseparately collected and returned to its individual reservoir where itmay be ltered or otherwise processed and re-used. In this Way, cleaningfluids are used only when and in an amount necessary and there is nomixing of two or more cleaning fluids together which might render themless efficient or unusable for the purpose.

Another objective of the invention is to cooperatively associate withthe foregoing an improved control system operable automatically to bringthe cleansing machine to a stop at any time during the successivecleaning stages with the various elements and parts thereof in aposition such that each of the several valves controlling the respectiveiiuid supply systems is closed off, so that the machine may notinadvertently come to rest and be left idle with the fluid pressuresystems still functioning.

Still another objective of the invention is to provide an improved meansfor carefully and accurately locating the tubes to be cleansed on eachof the cleaning nozzles in a manner that eliminates the possibility offracture or chipping heretofore occasioned in hand loading devices, andfor denitely relating the loading mechanisms with the tube translatingandwithlthe valve control and stopping mechanisms so that not only willthe machine remain properly timed but that, when stopped, the valveswill be closed and the feeding and tube locating means will be inposition to receive a new batch of tubes.

This invention further aims to render available a washing machine whosecapacity and number of tube receiving needles and cleaning stages may beincreased or decreased to suit particular needs without severereconstruction or reorganization.

In attaining the aims of the invention it is proposed to arrange aconveyor structure with a series of transversely extending troughassemblies, each of which carries one or more radiating tubular needleson which the tubes to be cleaned are located. In the instant embodimentthe trough assemblies are removably attached to the links of chainsthatpass over cog wheels intermittently revolvable on horizontal axes. As

the cogs are intermittently actuated, the troughs and needles pass fromthe under side of the wheel axis to a horizontal position wheresynchronously driven tube feeding mechanisms align the tubes and needlesand place the tubes on the needles. The next movement of the conveyorlifts the tubes out of the loading mechanism, and subsequent movementsplace them in a vertical position, with ytheir open ends down. Each'trough assembly is formed with a laterally extending common conduit incommunication with each of the needle jets, and whose outer end isadapted to be engaged successively by each of a series of independentfluid supply nozzles. The supply nozzles are normally stationaryrelative to the movement of the troughs, but have a reciprocating motiontimed with the conveyor movements so that after each trough arrives at astation a connection is made with a separate uid system and theparticular cleaning uid or agent of that system is forced through thesupporting needles to the-interior of the inverted tubes. In thepresentembodiment eight effective stations havebeen illustrated, andas one maydesire to follow each Vinjection of cleaning fluid with a drying medium,four ofthe stations might be termed cleaning stations .and theintervening four, .drying stations. The invention, however, comprehendsvarious combinations and the foregoingexample is but representativeofthe many combinations made possible by this invention.

Themechanisms are arrangedhowever, so that `immediately upon theshuttingoff of the cleansing iiuid at the first station of a pair, theinverted tubes drain into the troughs and may continue draining whilethe conveyor moves another step. At the next station,va connection withan air supply, for exampleis made-t hasten the 4expulsion anddryingofythe tube. Meanwhile, the liquid collecting in .the troughs during vthewashing transferring and the Yexpulsion stages, is free to owiinto acatchbasin and from there conducted backto the reservoir. .Each pair ofstations has its owncatch basin so that, inthe instant example, as manyas =four different cleaning agents maybeused successively on .each tubeand the respective liquids separatelycollected for re-use.

Meanwhile, additional tubes are being fed and located on the needles atthe loading station, by means drivenby the conveyor driving means, andthe thoroughlyfcleaned tubes are being discharged from the needles atthe end station on to a conveyoror other .mechanism leading to packagingor `nlling devices. The operation is such that the attendant merelyplaces unclean tubes, which may be of like sizeor-of .different sizes,in the loading channelaafter which they-are automatically aligned .withthe Washing-needles, placed thereon, and movedthrough the successivecleansing, sterilizing anddrying stations, and the sterile tubesthereafter discharged upon a conveyor or receiving means ready for thesubsequent operations of filling and sealing. The washing operation iscontinuously intermittent and allows just enough Ydwell .period at eachstation to insure proper loading, proper connecting and disconnecting ofthe iiuid lines, and cyclic operation of the control valves, .to insureadequate sterilization and drying time without waste or mixing of theingredients. Followingthe initial operation of placing unclean vtubeslin the feeding racks, the machine operation is entirely automat-'c inits functioning.

O. her obj. c's and advantages will be in part indicated in thefollowing description andin part drawings, like characters of referencedenote .corresponding Darts throughout all the views, of which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a washing machine constructed in accordancewith this invention.

Fig. 1A is a fragmentary View of a portion of the machine illustrated inFig. 1 equipped with a modified Yform of loading mechanism.

Fig. .1B is a plan view of the loading mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1A.

Fig. `2 `is an end view thereof, partly in section better to illustratethe drive means and the mechanisms for coordinating the movements of thes everalelements and controls.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a portion of the machine illustrating thevalves and part of the control system.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of one formof control circuit.

Fig. 5 is plan View of the loading mechanism illustrated in Fig. Yl.

Fig. 6 is an end view thereof; Fig. '7 is an enlarged viewof a portionof the tube and needle aligning means; and Fig. 8 is a sectional viewtaken through one-of the loading troughs and aligning means.

Referring more `particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the Washing machineillustrated is mounted upon a pair of leg standards I0, and comprisesessentially, a pair of lower rails ll, l2 and a pair of upperrails i3,i4, between which a series of bearing plates l5, .16, H, I8, aresecured. The construction is such that by using increased or decreasedlengths of rails Il-I4, and adding or removing pairs o-f bearing plateunits IE-I8, the length of the machine may be altered and its capacitychanged to suit specic requirements without expensive reconstruction ortime consuming delays. This improved structure is set forth and-claimedmore specifically in my cepending application Serial No. 514,930, Dec.20, 1943.

The supporting 4rails il-Id are spaced apart, as in Fig. 2, and thechannel therebetween contains substantially all of the actuatingmechanisms. The conveyor mechanism also travels between thesupportingrails and includes two linked chain structures I9 and 2i), whose pivotrolls 2l engagenotches 22 in driving and driven pairs of star wheels 23and 2li. The wheels 23 and 212 are xedly mounted to shafts 25 and 26,respectively, andthese are journaled in bearing blocks 2 and 28supportedby the main frame. lBetween the pair of star wheels 23 a ratchet wheel29 is xed and adapted to be driven intermittently by means ofaspringpressed pawl 3Q mounted to the end of `anactuating lever 3l. Theother end of the leveris pivoted to a cross support at 32 in such apositionthat a central portion of the lever overlays-an actuating cam orroller 33 mounted upon a main-cam shaft 34.

A motor 35 drives the main shaft through reduction gearing in a housing35, and when operating .the-actuating arm 13H is caused to be raised andlowered once during each complete turn of the cam shaft. Each time thearm is lifted the pawl '30 engages a notch in the ratchet wheel andindexes the wheel one position. Such movements, it will be seen,advances the conveyor step by step in a counterclockwise direction (inFig. 1), leaving a dwell period between steps for loading and cleansingoperations.

The links of the two conveyor chains are disposed directly opposite oneanother and are bridged by removable needle trough assemblies 40 each ofwhich comprises an open ended trough member 4| having a plurality ofaligned tube supporting hollow needles 42 radiating therefrom. Eachneedle is screw threaded to the bottom of a trough and its interiorarranged to communicate with a common conduit 43 formed in the troughbottom. If it is desired to use less than six needles, the excess isremoved and the holes appropriately capped. The conduit is closed at oneend and its other end is provided with a conical seat 44 which lsadapted to cooperate intermittently with the generally spherical end offluid supply conduits 45.

In the present embodiment, eight supply stations and eight supplynozzles 45 have been illustrated. The number may, however, be increasedor decreased as desired. Each of the nozzles 45 is normally springpressed toward the seat 44 in a related trough assembly by a spring 46operating between a -loose collar 41 and a normally tight colla` 48. Byadjusting the tight collar to the left (in Fig. 2) the particular nozzleaffected may be prevented from moving.

The several nozzles are actuated outwardly by means of levers 49 thatare secured to an oscillatable shaft 50 journaled in brackets 5l securedto the framing, Another lever 52 is also secured to the shaft 50 and hasits lower end pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 53which in turn is pivoted at 54 in a bracket secured to the framing. Theother end of the bell crank 53 carries a roller 55 that tracks on theperiphery of a cam 56 secured to the cam shaft 34. Part of the surfaceof the cam 56 is relieved to provide a low portion into which the roller55 drops during the movement of the conveyor. When the conveyor and thetrough assemblies 40 have been indexed, the high portion of the cam 56engages the roller 55 and actuates the bell crank clockwise from theposition illustrated in Fig. 2. This movement through the toggle-likeconnection with lever 52 rocks the shaft 55 and levers 49 in acounterclockwise direction and the supply nozzles move inwardly and seatupon the respective seats in the trough assemblies.

After the nozzles are seated, a valve 6U associated with each supplyline, is opened and fluid is directed through one or more of the lines 6l. nozzles 45, and conduits 43 of the trough assemblies 40, Normally thevalves 60 are closed, and are opened only when their respective valvestems 62 are depressed.

The means for opening the valves comprises a series of adjustable screws63 carried at the free end of a pivoted bracket 64, each of which may beset so as to effect opening of its related valve to a greater or lesserextent depending upon requirements. The inner end of the bracket ispivoted to the framing, and carries an actuating arm member 65. 'Ihe arm65 mounts near its lower` end, a roller 66 that engages a cam 61 mountedon the cam shaft. The cam 61 progresses from minimum to maximum diameter(see Fig. 4) so that the valves are gradually opened and quickly closed.The angular setting of the cam 61 on the cam shaft 34 is cooperativelyrelated with the movements of the conveyor so that the opening andclosing of the respective valves 6 is timed to .occur during the periodof dwell of the trough assembliesat the different stations, and betweenthe interval of seating and unseatingof. the supply nozzles, to the endthat no cleaning fluid flows to the needles until all connections aretight. The setting of the individual set screws 63 controls the volumeof fluid suppliedv to the different groups of needles at the diierentstations.

The valve actuating arm 65 is guided near its lower end in a lug 68 atthe side of the machine and the extreme lower end 69 projectstherethrough to engage, during a certain portion of its travel, theplunger 10 of a sensitive switch 1|. As diagrammatically illustrated inFig. 4, the switch 1l is normally open and is connected to the drivemotor in parallel with a manually operated normally open switch 12. Whenthe operator actuates the switch 12 to a closed position, the motor 35operates to drive the cam shaft 34 and the parts connected therewith, ofwhich the valve actuating and switch control arm 65 is one. The camshaft will make approximately one-quarter of a turn from the positionshown in Fig. 4 (counterclockwise in Fig. 4) before the end 69 engagesthe plunger 10 and closes the switch 1I. When this occurs the operatormay release switch 12. Power operation continues until the cam roller 66rides off the high part of the cam 61. At this point the valve actuatingscrews 63 are quickly lifted, allowing the valves to close, and the stem69 lifts away from the switch plunger 10 and the switch 1l opens. Thedrive motor thereupon stops and the machine comes to rest with allvalves closed; and with the loading mechanism retracted to a positionready to receive tubes. Spring elements 13, 14 and 15 assist in theretracting movements of the several elements. The switch 1l is ofconventional design having provision for overtravel of its actuatingbutton, as for example, the yield spring represented in Fig. 4.

With this simpliiied form of control, the machine may be operatedcontinuously, by maintaining the foot switch 12 closed, or cyclically bythe intermittent actuation of the foot switch. With either method ofoperation, however, the operation of the holding switch 1l is such as toinsure that the fluid valves 60 are actuated to closed position by thetime the main drive ceases operation.

Cooperatively related with the indexing of the troughs is the operationof the loading mechanism illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1A, 1B,and a variant form in Figs. 1, 5-8. The function of the loadingmechanism is vto position the unclean ampules or tubes on the severalneedles of successive trough assemblies during the time they are atrest. Advantageously, a horizontal position of the needles, asillustrated in these figures, is selected as the loading station. Theloading mechanism comprises a reciprocable carrier that is guided on therails I3 and I4 and actuated toward and away from the needles bymechanism driven from the common cam shaft 34. A cam element 8| having agently rising side and a relatively steep side, is mounted upon the camshaft 34 for that purpose and engages a, roller 82 carried by a pivotedlever 83. The lower end of lever 83 connects with generally horizontallink member 84 which in turn connects with the lower end of a pivotedlever 85. The upper end of the lever 352L has a pin and slot engagementwith the under side of the carrier 8U, and as the main cam shaftrotates, the loading mechanism is reciprocated in timed relation withthe conveyor movements, heav-yspring 86 normally tends' tour-'getheroller 82 against thecam 8l'l and the feed carrier 80f to retracted'.position.

As illustrated4 in the drawings, each troughassembly carries six needleswhereby six aanpules'or tubes may be loaded and subsequently washedsimultaneously. Likewise in the tube carrie'r there are six' channels 86into which unclean tubes are to be laid. The forward portions of thechannels 86 are somewhat tapered asfatf 81' and serve to guide the'forward ends of the tubes into coaxial alignment with the' needles';In"y the preferred form of loading mechanismshown' in' Figs; 11A'y and1B thev feeding! and aligning of tube and' needle' is effectedpneumaticallsT during.' the forwardl travel' of the carr-ier 80;.whereasg the form' illustrated in' Figs. 5,. 6D andl 8` the feeding andaligning i's effected mechanically' bythe overtaking.' action of theindivldual plunger's 88 which urge the" respective tubes into thepolished cone shaped recesses 89' provided in centering' fingers 90".`The centering ngers 90move forward with the carrier 80 and are providedwith'A similar cone cavities 9| in their sides facing the' needles. Thusas the carrier advances, the several needles, should any bei notperfectly straight, are guided by the cone wallsi 9|4 through ay centralopening 9|@ therein and i-'nto the ampule or tube that centered int-liecone' on the other side.

Withf referenceit'o the feeder illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 each plunger88/ carries at its'forward end' a yielding'. abutment or pusher' 92 thatis compressed slightly when' the rimof the tube or ampu-le' has beenadvanced' into the cone 89 as far as' it will go;

When,j however, the machine is equipped with pneumatic feeding; means, ajet of air" directed at' the rear endof each' ampule, urges the"respectiveampules forward' along the channels and into'the'c'ones89;without subjecting the ampules to physical contact with the ends of'the feed plungers; Referring.,` particularly to Figs. 1A an'd 1B, theslide" 80` carries a.v seri'es of air jetsV 883;, one located in eachlofthe channels 86', which' receive compressed air from a common manifold885'. The' forward end' of each ail` jet" tube 88'" is` provided with asmall opening 885 through whicl'i a stream of air' is forced at theproper time and which moves the tube lying' in the channel 86there'along` and' into the cone 89. The air for the' jets i's controlledby a normallyY closed valve 88d' se'cured' to the frame,` andA which'ist opened automatically duringA the' forward movement of' the slld'eand closed again during the" return movement.

To effect this" operation', apivoted valvev` actuating lever 88? i's'iprovided, the under side of wli'ich iS'- formed with a cam surface 88fadapted to" track upon' a roller 882 of the slide. As the" slide movesforward, the roller 881g rocks' the lever about its pivotv anddepressies the valve' stelrr,l thus admitting the a2i`i=l to' thenmanifold 88h" and' the jets'- 88TH. When the" pressure" is on, theampules; A immediately move forward intor the cone chucks andi are heldby the? streams of air` pressure' in positions ready to receive' the'needles; When the chucks open, the' air stream-s continue to pushthevampules ifolwardwell-on: thefrieedles. Aheady of the control valve 88d'a` cut-off valve 881 may be' i-`n stalled for' closing" oir orlregulating the volunie; and ahead of` the valve 88d a pr'essur'e"reducing orregulating; valve (not show'n mayb'e installed; The' latteris desir-able in* installation ing cones.

is guided on rods IDI where'the line pressure is too high. A jetpressure of approximately 5 pounds will advance medium size ampulesefficiently. Larger and smaller tubes' or heavier and lighter tubes willnaturally require increased or decreased jet pressures. The air from thecontrol valve is directed to the jets 88aA through a line 885 and aexible hose 88k, the latter type of connection providing forthem'ovement of the jets relative to the'xed control valve.

The centering cone elements 89 and 9| are Iformed in two parts, eachpart being pivoted to the carrier at 93, some` distance below theconical seats, and one leg 94 of each pair is pivoted to an actuatingrod 95 and the other leg 96 of each pair, is pivoted to anotheractuating rod 91. A spring 98a connected to the ends of the rods 96 and91 at the ends opposite their respective rollers is tensioned normallyto hold all of the cones in closed position (full line position in Fig.7). As the carrier travels forward,` in response to the action of thecam 8|, rollers 95a and 9"!a carried 4at the ends of the rods 95 and 91,engage' stationary cams 98 and 99, and at the end: of the forwardmovement, the incline of the stationary cams react to force the rodsinwardly thereby effecting opening of the cones, i. e;, to the positionillustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. By the time this occurs thecleaning needles will have been centered and caused to project well intothe ampule or tube necks and the succeeding indexing movement of theconveyor will eiec't a lifting of the ampules out of the channels 86through the'then opened center- Just prior thereto, however, theopening' of the centering cones permits the compressed air vor thespring cushions 92 to push each tube forward further on the associatedneedle' so that the ampules are well forward on the needles at the timeindexing occurs, and-consequently cannot fall oi.

The means for advancing the plungers 88- relative' to the' carrier isillustrated in Figs. 1, 5, and 6` and comprises a; sliding frame |91)vthat that form part of the traveling carrier 802 The carrier also mountsat its rearA portion, a pair of supportingv rollers to2' rotatablymounted on a shaft |03. Each roller bears upon a track plate |04securedl to the main framing. The shaft |03 pivotally mounts' a shortlever |05' which has a pin and slot connection with t "e underside ofthe sliding frame |00, and by means of arod-like extension |06', extendsthrough an aperture |01 in ar stationary crossplate `member |08.Accordingly-as the carrier 80'moves forward, from the positionillustrated in- Fig. 1', the rod |06 fulcrums on the sides ofthe`opening in the crossplate and rocks the lever |05, and the movement ofthe lever |05 is transmitted to the slide |00 and plungers 88 securedthereto, whereby the latter move' forward slightly faster than theforward movement of? the carrier. nismis not necessary when thepneumatic feeder is; employed.

The action: of the various elements, on reverse mover-nent of thecarrier (to allow a succeeding needle group toinove` into loadingposition), is just the reverse to that explained, with the result thatampule space between the4 air jets or plungers and the centering conesis provided to permit easyr insertion of unclean tubes into thechannels.

In order adapted forv tubes of diierent length, eacli uat the'A16a-ding" mechanismbe plunger 88 is adjustable endwise relative to theslide |50. Set screws llliia are provided to lock each plunger inadjusted position. The dotted lines in Fig. illustrate the lower threeplungers adjusted outwardly to accommodate slightly longer tubes. Allplungers are, however, similarly adjustable and in consequence two ormore sizes of tubes may be loaded and sterilized simultaneously. Whennecessary, one or more of the needles in the trou-gh assemblies, mayalsoA be replaced by needles of a size best adapted to support theparticular tubes to be sterilized. For exceptionally large tubes, thestationary cams 98 and 9S and the fulcrum plate |08 may be shiftedrearwardly the requisite amount to a1- low correspondingly long needlesto swing into position in front of the centering cones. With the machineequipped with the pneumatic feeder, all of the jets may be adjusted as aunit to- Ward or away from the cone chucks, and if different lengthtubes are to be run simultaneously jet tubes of different lengths may bemounted in the slide and manifold.

As the needle assemblies move upwardly about the starwheel center 26,carrying and supporting thereon the ampules or tubes, the tubes shouldany be not fully down on the needles, are caused to settle thereon Vandare then carried along the top of the conveyor in an inverted positionthrough the eight sterilizing stations. At the station a, hot water, forexample, may be injected into the interior of the tubes through theneedles and connections heretofore explained, and at the next stationa', air or other drying medium. At the third station b, anothercleansing fluid, not necessarily water, may be injected followed by adrying or expelling medium at station b', and similar cleansing andsterilizing operations performed at stations c, c', d, and d', thusinsuring a high degree of sterility.

Although it is not essential, it has been found convenient to group thecleansing stations in pairs, as above mentioned, for the reason that thevalves controlling the several fluid supply lines are opened after thetrough assembly arrives in position, and closed before the assemblyleaves that position and all the while liquid is draining from theinverted tubes into4 the troughs. This draining may continue during thetransit from the rst station of a pair to the second and in theinterests of conserving and reclaiming, without mixing the differentfluids, the fluid that drains from the ampules and trough while at thesecond station (of any pair) should be collected with the fluid thatdrains from the trough at the first station of the pair. This objectivemay be achieved by providing a plurality of catch basins HIJ along thepath of travel under the lips of the troughs. In the instant examplefour of such basins have been provided and each has an opening HItherein which may be plugged, as illustrated, in Fig. 2, or piped toappropriate reclaiming apparatus or to reservoirs. Such liquid that maydrip from the sides of the troughs during their travel about theconveyor is collected in an underlying-pan H2 from which it escapes to asump through a pipe As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the ampules ortubes are prevented from being blown oif the needles when the pressureis applied, by a Vertically adjustable cover H4. This cover is openended and normally is set to clear the bottoms of the inverted tubeswithout allowing the tubes too much end play therebetween.

At the completion of the several cleaning cycles the sterile tubes arecarried from under the cover ll4 and removed ordischarged from theneedles. In the embodiment illustrated herein an adjustable guide plateor chute l l5 is provided on which the tubes are laid as the needlesreach a position below the horizontal. When this occurs the steriletubes automatically slide off the needles `on to the chute and thence onto a conveyor belt H6. The link connection Ill and pin and recesses H8afford means for adjusting the chute to dierent tube sizes.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fullyreveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readilyadapt it for Various utilizations by retaining one or more of thefeatures that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constituteessential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects ofthis invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and areintended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalencyof the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to securethe following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, byLetters Patent of the United States:

1.- In an ampule washing machine an indexible element, a series ofampule supporting and washing needles mounted on said element, means forindexing said washing needles successively -from an ampule feedingstation to a washing station and back to said feeding station, valvemeans and conduits for supplying cleansing fluid to the ampules while atthe washing station, and means mechanically synchronized with saidindexing means for actuating said valve means temporarily to an openposition when the said needles are at the Washing station, means forstarting the ymachine in operation, and additional control meansconnected with and operated by said valve actuating means operativenormally to stop the operating cycle of the machine upon the movement ofsaid Valve actuating means to a position closing said valve means.

2.A An ampule sterilizing machine combining a series of intermittentlymovable ampule supporting assemblies, each having a fluid conduittherein adapted to be coupled intermittently with a source of supplyduid, a series of movable but normally stationary cleansing fluid supplylines, normally closed valve means in each of said lines for controllingthe respective flows of cleansing fluidsv to the respective assemblies;means for moving said vassemblies from one station to another andthereafter to couple said supply lines with the respective conduits inthe respective assemblies and for actuating said valve means temporarilyto an open position during the period of rest of said assemblies, meansmanually operable to start the operation of the machine, and additional'means connected with said valve actuating means normally effective tocontinue the machine in operation and to stop same automatically uponthe movement of said valve actuating means to a position closing saidvalves.

3. In an ampule washing machine, the combination of a conveyor, a seriesof members attached to said conveyor, a plurality of elongated ampulesupporting jet elements extending from said members, each of said jetelements of each member having a central bore in communication with atransversely extending conduit formed in the member, a series ofrectilinearly movable 11 fluid 'supply conduits, normally .closed valvemeans in each of said supply conduits, means normally operative to bringsaid series of supply conduits into -uid tight relation with the con.-duits `in said members and cyclically to open said valve means therein,land means associated with eachof said valveopening means to control theoW opening of the valve means and thereby the fluld delivered Vtoarelated member and jet element-s independently ofthe flow of uiddelivered through other valve means and supply conduits to their relatedmembers and jet elements.

.4. In a device of ythe character described, a series of-units each ofsaid units comprising an onen 4vended trough shaped `@lenient mounting oplurality of tubular needles and having yan open ended uid conduittherein with which each of said tubular needles communicates, means forimparting an intermittent :movement to `said units, Vmeans -operative`when said Aunits are at rest to connect the said fluid conduit ofselected ones of said .units with independent sourdes of uid underpressure, Aand means adjacent Athe open ends .of v.said trough `shapedelements for separately collecting vthe uiddischarged through saidneedles.

5. In a device of the character described, a series of units, each ofsaid units 4,comprising a trough shaped elementmounting .a plurality yoftubular needles and having an open endeduid conduit formed therein withWhichseach of said tubular needles communicates, Ameans underlying saidtroughs for advancing-said troughs `intermittently, a series of supplyconduits each having end portions -disposed in the plane of movement ofthe troughs and in alignment with the open end of the fluid `conduitsthereof when the troughs are vat rest, -a control valve `in each ofsaidsupply conduits, and control means for Vthe valves including ,meansj-synchroniz'eu with the trough advancing fmeans for veffectingactuation of selected ones of said valves, the fluid dischargedthroughtheeiective valves, trough conduits, vand needles, and collectingin the respec- VG troughs 'being :Carried 19421055 fthe trough 'ad'vanoing mechanism :to la --point of discharge.

:6..In a device of ,the character described, .a container lcarrierfoomprising an elongated trough shaped element open at one endand mounting a plurality of tubular supports on -which oontainers to bewashed areadapied todos oarriedfsaid element having a .lengthwiseextending duid oonduitformod therein with which each Tof said tubillarsupports oommunicatesior supplying ,huid through the .respectivesupnoris fio Athe interior 12 o f the containers, said conduit `beingclosed rat for Ymoving Asaid element.

7. The combination set vforth in claim 6 lcharacterized K1by relativelymovable means operable in timed relation with the movement of said.element forestablishing a connection .with oneend of thecommon uidconduit in saidelement Aand a source of supplyuid.

8. ,Inan ampule-,washing machine, an indexible element, -.a series ofampule supporting kand wash.- ing needles mounted on said element, powermeans vfor indexingsaid elemEntrOm -an ampule feeding .station :to .awashing station and back to saideeding station,. conduit means atsaidwashing station l,including normally closed Valve means forsupplying cleaning ,iuid .to `the washing Aneedles YWhile 4at thatstation, .power means synchronized with said indexing means forefiecting actuation `of `said .valve `means ,to open positionduring `the.period said element -is .at the washing station, means normally.effective for initiating the indexing cycle, fand `additional means.actuated .byand .Controlled by .said vulve actuating Vmeans A,to,continue vthe indexing fcycle effective through one complete A,cycle ofvalve operation yindepende ntlyi.0f saidfinitiating means.

one end and open at its other .en dfand means .J. COZZOLI.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following .references are of :record ,in the fileof this patent:

lUNITED STATES PATENTS `Country Date QreatBritaln-.s-g- Mar- 13, 1.929

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